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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. mug — a cup
  5. bear — the animal
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. mug — a face
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. bear — the animal
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. mug — to rob
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. can — a tin
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. wax — to grow
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. can — a tin
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bore — to tire
  23. bore — to drill
  24. can — to be able to

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com